EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF Cu-Zn-Al (RE) SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

The effects of heat treatment on the Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys with mixed REwere researched with the help of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micro-scope (TEM).The results show that the shape memory alloys with martensite can beproduced by adding mixed RE and heat treatment processes holding at 820C -880Cfor 15min,quenching into oil,aging at 150C for 15min,and then holding in waterat 50C for 10min.The alloys have the lowest transformation thermal hysteresis.Among the four experimental heat treatment processes the gradationally quenchingmakes the alloy have the highest transformation temperature and quenching into oilor water at room temperature makes the alloy have the largest thermal hysteresis.Mi-crostructure examination shows that aging at 2000C could destroy the substructuresin lathy martensites in the alloy and form a lot of dislocations,and aging at 250℃could cause the bainite transformation in the alloy.